There is a moment in the Doom: The Dark Ages reveal trailer where our medieval marine pulls out a weapon that uses the skulls of his fallen enemies as ammunition, grinding them up before spitting them back out as razor-sharp projectiles. Seconds after that, he pulls the cord on a metallic shield that doubles as a chainsaw you can throw to rip and tear demons to tiny little fleshy pieces. All of these revelations are accompanied by an awesome metal soundtrack and hellishly mediaeval scenery that feels like classic Doom in all of the right ways. It’s over-the-top, beautiful, and unbelievably cool. He also has a cape.
Id Software’s reboot of the classic shooter has always been ridiculous, embracing how the concept of an overpowered god amongst men tearing demonic hordes a new one upon the surface of Mars is and will always be a tiny bit out there, but that doesn’t matter when it all looks amazing, feels incredible to play, and puts a smile on your face. We are two games in now and that couldn’t be more accurate, and I can’t wait to see what the third has in store.
The Doom Marine Has Been A Very Naughty Boy
Doom: The Dark Ages is essentially id Software’s take on Army of Darkness, and judging by the reveal trailer, it doesn’t seem to be abiding very accurately by whatever period of history it plans to pilfer from. We have yet to witness angelic cities lingering in the atmosphere and a demonic hellscape or two peppered throughout otherwise normal looking environments. It’ll blend together futuristic technology with the barbarism of medieval times, pulling a multitude of inspirations from classic films, literature, and perhaps even other games, too.
It’s proudly revelling in the fantastical, because why not let our anti-hero pilot a massive mech and ride a fire-breathing dragon when the world is already filled with hellish demons? It doesn’t need to explain itself, and even if it does, leaning into the absurd is always preferred. One thing I love about Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal is how they effortlessly turn their run and gun gameplay into what is essentially a rhythm game. You are encouraged to never stop moving, ensuring you are an omnipresent killing machine constantly switching up firearms, performing glory kills, and hopping about the place avoiding damage.
The Modern Doom Titles Are Secretly Rhythm Games
You feel unstoppable on higher difficulty settings, and Eternal took that formula much further with a multitude of mechanics which rewarded you with specific resources. Some would earn you health, others ammo and shields, so there was always an incentive to be creative. Rip and tear might sound like a simple instruction, but who says demonic genocide can’t turn into an intimate bout of bullet ballet with the right perspective. The Dark Ages is much the same, or at least I choose to believe that, judging by a handful of mechanics seen in this trailer.
It gives us a shield that can be used as a throwing weapon we can yeet and recall whenever we like, while also using it to block incoming attacks or crash down onto the ground from a distance, creating an incapacitating shockwave. I also spotted a chained mace of some sort which is used by our badass lead to stagger bad guys before delivering a chain of brutal melee attacks, hinting that perhaps it will possess its own dedicated input and tie into the ebb and flow of regular combat.
If The Dark Ages aims to not only take this gameplay philosophy further but refine a few of Eternal’s rough edges, then it can only be a good thing. When I first heard we were heading off to an older time period, I was worried that the swords, shields, and sorcery would result in a game that grew old long before its conclusion. What I didn’t account for was all the existing guns and technology coming along for the ride, turning the marine into the deadliest fish out of water we’ve ever seen. He’s basically a shark that grew legs and learned to use an assault rifle. Wait, no, we should let evolution take its course so that actually happens.
Doom: The Dark Ages looks metal as hell and I can’t wait to play it. If you need me, I’ll be replaying both of the previous games on my Steam Deck like a responsible adult who also loves to slay demons.
